August 14, 1997 The fiscal impact of privatization in Canada Bank of Canada Review - Summer 1997 Mylène Levac, Philip Wooldridge Privatization—the transfer of activities from the public to the private sector—gained international prominence in the 1980s because of the need to reduce budget deficits and growing concerns about the efficiency of state-owned enterprises and government bureaucracies. This article examines privatization in Canada and its effect on governments' fiscal positions. Privatization has generally been less rapid and extensive in Canada than elsewhere, partly because of the comparatively moderate size of our public sector. Nevertheless, federal, provincial, and municipal governments have increasingly reduced their direct involvement in the Canadian economy by selling Crown corporations, contracting with private firms to deliver public services, and transferring the development of public infrastructure projects to the private sector. The fiscal impact of privatizing Crown corporations varies with such factors as the profitability of the enterprise, the size of the government's initial investment, and past write-downs. In general, when privatizations are part of a broader effort to improve public finances, they can contribute to fiscal consolidation by reducing budgetary requirements and debt levels. When services and infrastructure projects are privatized, it is expected that more efficient private sector management will reduce government expenditures. For example, a private consortium may be better able to manage the financial risks involved in building an infrastructure facility, such as cost overruns or the withdrawal of contractors, than the public sector. The key to raising efficiency and lowering costs, however, is competition, not privatization per se. Therefore, the cost savings arising from the privatization of services or public works depend crucially on the terms of the contract. Overall, when structured to improve economic efficiency, privatization is likely to enhance the economy's performance, thereby producing long-term economic and budgetary gains. Content Type(s): Publications, Bank of Canada Review articles Topic(s): Fiscal policy
An Overview of Carbon Markets and Emissions Trading: Lessons for Canada Staff Discussion Paper 2008-1 Michael R. King The author provides an overview of carbon markets and explains how emissions trading can be important in encouraging the reduction of CO2 emissions in an efficient manner. He describes the key steps in establishing a cap-and-trade system, and reviews the European experiences with emissions trading. He highlights the lessons learned from the EU Emissions Trading […] Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff discussion papers Topic(s): International topics, Market structure and pricing JEL Code(s): D, D4, N, N5, N50, Q, Q2, Q21
June 7, 2018 Financial System Review - June 2018 This issue of the Financial System Review reflects the Bank’s judgment that high household indebtedness and housing market imbalances remain the most important vulnerabilities. While these vulnerabilities remain elevated, policy measures continue to improve the resilience of the financial system. A third vulnerability highlighted in the FSR concerns cyber threats to an interconnected financial system. Content Type(s): Publications, Financial Stability Report
February 17, 2011 Bank of Canada Review - Winter 2010-2011 This issue features a summary of the Bank’s annual conference, which this year dealt with financial globalization, and three articles that present research by Bank staff on Canada’s mortgage market, the role of adverse selection in financial crises, and payment networks. Content Type(s): Publications, Bank of Canada Review
December 6, 2008 Beads to Bytes: Canada's National Currency Collection This volume explores money and the role it has played, and continues to play, in society, through the lens of Canada's National Currency Collection. The Collection is an extraordinary repository of coins, bank notes, and related paraphernalia from around the world. Soft cover, 124 pages (2008). Content Type(s): Publications, Books and monographs, Souvenir books Topic(s): Bank notes
May 19, 2011 Supplementary article: Paying with Polymer: Developing Canada’s New Bank Notes Bank of Canada Review - Spring 2011 Charles Spencer In this article, author Charles Spencer reviews the complex process of developing the new series, which represents a dramatic change for Canada. The leading-edge security features made possible by the new substrate, the cost savings of the move to a polymer base and the environmental advantages of the new notes are also examined. Content Type(s): Publications, Bank of Canada Review articles Topic(s): Bank notes, Credibility, Payment clearing and settlement systems
February 1, 2012 Developments and Issues in the Canadian Market for Asset-Backed Commercial Paper Financial System Review - June 2003 Paula Toovey, John Kiff Content Type(s): Publications, Financial System Review articles
Micro Foundations of Price-Setting Behaviour: Evidence from Canadian Firms Staff Working Paper 2007-31 Daniel de Munnik, Kuan Xu How do firms adjust prices in the marketplace? Do they tend to adjust prices infrequently in response to changes in market conditions? If so, why? These remain key questions in macroeconomics, particularly for central banks that work to keep inflation low and stable. Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff working papers Topic(s): Inflation and prices, Monetary policy transmission JEL Code(s): D, D4, D40, E, E3, E30, L, L1, L11
November 1, 2016 25 Years of Inflation Targets: Certainty for Uncertain Times Remarks Stephen S. Poloz Business Council of British Columbia Vancouver, British Columbia Governor Stephen S. Poloz discusses the renewal of Canada’s inflation-targeting agreement and how it continues to help the economy. Content Type(s): Press, Speeches and appearances, Remarks Topic(s): Central bank research, Credibility, Inflation targets, Inflation: costs and benefits, Monetary aggregates, Monetary policy framework
December 21, 2007 Financial System Review - December 2007 The financial system makes an important contribution to the welfare of all Canadians. The ability of households and firms to confidently hold and transfer financial assets is one of the fundamental building blocks of the Canadian economy. Content Type(s): Publications, Financial Stability Report